The annoying thing is that really, I *am* replaceable (most every worker is), but it would be *inconvenient.*

I have had the discussion with my boss about how much that "convenience" is worth to 'em and the answer is -- it isn't. So I can either take what they offer or go elsewhere.

The rest of my vacation, I'm screening calls.

(My favorite you-useless-engineer story is the little radio station where I'd set up a calendar to keep track of all the live-broadcast remotes, satellite feed recordings, routine maintenance and so on that my staff of one and I needed to do. It was simply an effort to ensure we didn't miss anything. The program directors hated it because it showed their conflicting demands on the available resources and after I quit, they took the calendar down. [That'll fix it!] Next day I had a frantic call from my former staffer, asking, "You kept copies of the calendar, didn't you?" "Nope." "Uh-oh." --Uh-oh, indeed.)

I think a company I worked for ended up in Worldcom for a minute or two, but not sure.

Another outfit laid me off with all the rest of the engineers because their accountant couldn't do basic math ... and failed to pay me for a month's wages. With state law penalties that added up to a hair over five figures.

Then they called me to ask about contracting in to finish the project. Sure, I said, $90 an hour ( well it was the late '80's ...) and you pay me that ten big bills you owe me first ...

I was down-sized in 2001 from a service industry position in which,besides being a service tech I also had responsibilities as a district trainer and safety compliance. Two weeks after my last day on the job I got a call at home wanting to know why I was there and not at my scheduled training session in a major metro area three hours away. When I mentioned that I no longer worked for them, they tried to explain that only the tech job had been eliminated, not the others. When I asked about how I was going to be compensated, there was a stunned silence. "Well, you were paid as a tech. . .we can't pay you for these duties". Click was the only answer from me.

Heh. I had just about forgotten this: I used to be in the Air Farce. Got out after Gulf War Part 1. I was at home one summer afternoon doing who the heck remembers what when the phone rang. I answered."Sergeant Bussjaeger, this is a recall. Report to your work center immediately.""Um... Do you idiots realize I'm not in the Air Farce anymore?""What?""I got out a couple months ago.""Oh. ... ... ... ... Then you're not the Wideband NCOIC now?""Nope.""Who is?""Beats the f### outa me. Why don't you ask someone in the Air Farce?"

(Added: In some ways the best part was that this conversation went on, and they actually told this dedicated civilian why they were running a military recall. It wasn't classified, but it's something they should have kept their mouths shut about.)

"I saw to what extent the people among whom I lived could be trusted as good neighbors and friends; that their friendship was for summer weather only; that they did not greatly propose to do right; that they were a distinct race from me by their prejudices and superstitions."